Committee Bucks Auto Testing

House Lawmakers Defy Epa Threat On Funds

April 25, 1985|By John Schrag and Tim Franklin, Chicago Tribune.

SPRINGFIELD — Reviving a feud between state and federal environmental officials, an Illinois House committee voted Wednesday to repeal a law requiring vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis areas to pass auto emission tests.

The emission testing, designed to curb air pollution in the two cities, was passed by the legislature last year under pressure from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which threatened to cut off more than $100 million in federal highway funds earmarked for the state.

Rep. Monroe Flinn (D., Cahokia), sponsor of the repeal bill, called the federal EPA`s persistent threats to cut off highway funds ``blackmail`` and implored the committee to strike down the program before it takes effect.

``The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last year threatened to not only withhold $100 million in road funds, which includes the federal tax funds that you and I have paid and are entitled to receive back, but also threatened matching funds for all sorts of improvements,`` Flinn told the committee.

``This, in my opinion, is pure and simple blackmail.``

After the committee vote, a state environmental official said that if the emission program were repealed, it ``definitely would jeopardize federal highway funds`` for Illinois.

``The EPA made it very clear that (emissions testing) is a necessary step in the Chicago and East St. Louis areas,`` said Frank Sherman, head of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency`s vehicle inspection program.

The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee approved the repeal bill 10-3 with little debate. The measure moves to the House floor, where it is bound to face stiff opposition.

The emission testing is scheduled to begin this fall in all of Cook and in parts of Du Page, Lake, Madison and St. Clair Counties.

Penalties for failing or not taking the clean-air test become effective Jan. 1, 1986. Motorists will be subject to suspension of their driver`s licenses if their autos fail the tests, while license plates will be revoked if vehicles owned by businesses fail.

Rekindling another controversy, the House Registration and Regulation Committee voted to repeal a law prohibiting the sale of autos on Sunday, but Rep. Richard Mautino (D., Spring Valley), sponsor of the bill, acknowledged that it faces an uncertain fate on the House floor.